Underframe



Feb. 23, 1937. w. c. HEDGCOCK ET AL 2,071,629

UNDERFRAME Filed Dec. 15, 1955 5 She'ets-Sheet 1 m [72067261 57 73 WLZZLCL/TZGHG c0010,

Baberli C0 'QZL,

1937- w. c. HEDGCOCK ET AL 2,071,629

UNDERFRAME Filed Dec. 15, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 WLZZL amC H Cock,

Feb. 23, 1937. w. c. HEDGCOCK ET AL 2,071,629

UNDERFRAME Filed Dec. 15, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 gym Feb. 23, 1937. w. c. HEDGCOCK ET AL 2,071,629

UNDERFRAME Filed Dec. 13, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 i IO u g 1937- w. c. HEDGCOCK ET AL 2,071,629

UNDERFRAME Filed Dec. 13, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 coo s,

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fioberili 9 Patented Feb. 23, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE UNDERFRAME New Jersey Application December 13, 1933, Serial No. 702,152

20 Claims.

This invention pertains to car underframes and more particularly to a four-wheel car underframe provided with outboard type of wheel and axle assemblies.

It is an object of this invention to provide a cast steel underframe or a fabricated underframe adapted particularly for use with a four-wheel car having outboard wheel and axle assemblies.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a car underframe with combined cast steel cross bearer and journal box pedestal jaws adapted for four-wheel freight cars using various types of spring suspensions.

A yet further object of this invention is to provide a novel construction of pedestal jaws for use on four-wheel cars and particularly a pedestal jaw designed to accommodate various spring combinations.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a novel form of pedestal jaw designed particularly for application to a four-wheel car underframe structure.

With these and other objects in view the invention may consist of certain novel features of construction and operation as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the specification, drawings and claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, which illustrate embodiments of the device and wherein like reference characters are used to designate like parts- Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan view of an integrally formed cast steel underframe embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of the car illustrated in' Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a transverse fragmentary sectional elevation taken substantially in the plane as indicated by the line 33 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged transverse sectional elevation of the spring pocket taken substantially in the plane as indicated by the line 44 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary top plan view of a modified form of car underframe construction embodying the invention;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevation of the truck construction shown in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a transverse fragmentary sectional elevation taken substantially in the plane as indicated by the line of Figure 5;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary top plan view of another modified form of car underframe construction embodying the invention;

Figure 9 is a fragmentary side elevation of the underframe construction illustrated in Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a transverse fragmentary sectional elevation taken substantially in the plane as indicated by the line l0l0 of Figure 8;

Figure 11 is a fragmentary top plan view of a car underframe construction such as illustrated in Figure 8 showing the same adapted for use with another form of spring suspension;

Figure 12 is a fragmentary side elevation of the car underframe construction illustrated in Figure 11;

Figure 13 is a fragmentary transverse sectional elevation as indicated by the line I3-l3 of Figure 11;

Figure 14 is a fragmentary side elevation of the car underframe construction illustrated in Figure 1 showing a different form of spring suspension;

Figure 15 is a fragmentary side elevation of the car underframe construction illustrated in Figure 8 having a different spring arrangement applied thereto;

Figure 16 is a fragmentary side elevation of a car underframe construction such as illustrated in Figure 8 showing still another spring arrangement applied thereto.

In the car underframe constructions illustrated in Figures 1 to 7 inclusive and 14, an integral cast steel type of frame is shown including the end sills 20 having the striking casting 22 cast integral therewith and provided with the draft gear pocket 24. The draft gear pocket includes the spaced draft sills 26 provided with front and rear draft lugs 28 and 30 respectively, and transverse means in the form of spaced members 32 disposed in spaced relation to the ends of the sills and being substantially aligned with a transverse cross bearer referred to hereinafter.

In the construction illustrated in Figures 1 t0 4 inclusive, spaced center sills 34 are disposed sub stantially in alignment with the spaced draft sills 26.

In the construction illustrated in Figures 5 to 7 inclusive, the draft sills 26 are suitably connected as by means of the riveting 38 to the spaced center sills 40 whereby the center sills are in substantial alignment with the draft sills 28.

In each construction the transverse cross bearer 42 is integrally formed with the draft and center sills and extends transversely of the truck intersecting the spaced pedestal sills 44, the outer transverse beam portion 46 of the cross bearer being suitably connected as at 48 to the side sills 50, said sills being also connected to the outer end beam portion 52 as at 54.

Again, in the construction illustrated in Figures 5 t0 7 inclusive, pedestal sill brackets 56 are provided for connection as at 68 to separate pedestal sill members 60 disposed in longitudinal alignment with the integral pedestal sills 44 thereof. The diagonal brace member 62 is integrally formed with the end sills and pedestal sills and extends diagonally inwardly to merge with the draft sills 26, adjacent the cross bearer 42.

Referring now more particularly to the underframe spring suspension illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, the pedestal sills are provided with pedestals 64, including the spaced pedestal jaws 66, said jaws including the spaced plates 68. The pedestal jaws slidably receive the journal box I0, said journal box having cooperative relation with the journal ends of the wheel and axle assembly I2. Suitable wear plates I4 are provided on said jaws for acccommodating the wear due to relative movement of the journal box in respect to the pedestals, the retainer plate I6 being connected across said jaws for preventing disassociation of the journal box and said pedestals.

The journal box is provided with the upper leaf spring seat I8 for receiving the spring band 80 of the semi-elliptic leaf spring assembly 82. One leg 84 of said leaf spring assemblyis adapted to be-seated in the integral leaf spring seat 86 provided on the pedestal sills between the spaced plate 68 of the pedestals, the leg of said spring being adapted to be positioned by means of the depending dowel 88 received in a suitable aperture provided in said spring. The pedestal sills on the other side of said journal box are provided with the coil spring pocket 90 provided with the coil spring seat 92 in which the coil spring 94 is seated. The other end of said coil spring is seated on the coil spring seat 86, said seat being supported on the other leg 98 of the leaf spring assembly 82, said seat being also provided with a depending positioning dowel I00 received in a suitable aperture provided in the leg 98 of said spring. It will thus be seen that in this construction the underframe is supported partly by springs of different character in series and partly by one leg of the leaf spring.

In the construction illustrated in Figures 5 to 7 inclusive, the pedestal sills 44 are provided with the pedestal I02, including the spaced pedestal jaws I04 having the wear plates I06, journal box retainer I08, and spaced plates IIO forming said jaws. The journal box H2 is adapted to have cooperative relation with the journal ends of the wheel and axle assemblies H4, and has slidable engagement with the wear plates I06 and the pedestals. In this construction the journal box is provided with coil spring seats II6 adapted to accommodate the. coil springs I I8, the upper ends of said coil springs being seated on the coil spring pedestal seat I20 shown as disposed below the pedestal sills 44 and interposed between the pedestal jaws. The position of the seat is of course to be determined by the height of the spring required.

In Figure 14 the construction is practically the same except that the integral form of underframe is contemplated as illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive.

Referring now to the fabricated or built-up type of the underfame illustrated in Figures 8 to 13 inclusive, l5 and 16, the end sill I22 is provided with the separate striking casting I24 secured thereto as at I26, the center sills I28 being connected to the end sill I22 as at I30, the portion of the center sill between the end sill and the cross bearer I32 forming draft sills I34. The

draft sills are provided with the spaced inner and outer draft lugs I36 and I38 and are conpassage of the draft center sill therethrough, the

portions of the cross bearer on each side of the draft sill being flanged as at I44 and secured to said center sill as at I46. Pedestal sills I48 also intersect cross bearer I32 and are connected to flanged portions I50 thereof as at I52, and are connected to the end sill as at I54 and to a bracket I56 as at I58. The diagonal brace mem her I 60 is connected to the bracket I56 and to the bracket I 62, the last named bracket being connected to the draft sills I34 and cross bearer I32.

Referring now more particularly to the construction illustrated in Figures 8 to 10 inclusive, the pedestal sills are provided with the pedestals I64 suitably secured thereto, said pedestals including the spaced jaws I66, the wear plates I68, the retainer I10 and the coil spring seat In disposed between said jaws. The journal box I74 is adapted to have cooperative relation with the journal ends of the wheel and axle assembly I'I6, said journal box having sliding cooperation with the wear plates. The journal box is provided with the coil spring seats I18 adapted to accommodate the coil springs I80 disposed on said seats I18 and engaging the seats I12 whereby the un derfame is resiliently supported on the wheel and axle assemblies.

In the construction illustrated in Figures 11 to 13 inclusive, the pedestals I82 are secured to the pedestal sills I48 and include the spaced jaws I84 provided with the wear plates I86 and the retainer I88. The journal box I90 has cooperative engagement with the journal ends of the wheel and axle assemblies I 92 and has sliding cooperation with the wear plates I86. The journal box is provided with the leaf spring seat I94 adapted to receive the lower spring band I96 of the full elliptic leaf spring assembly I98, the upper spring band 200 being seated on the leaf spring seat 202 provided on the pedestal.

In the construction illustrated in Figure 15, the pedestals 204 include the spaced pedestal jaws 206 provided with the wear plates 208 and the journal box retainer 2 I 0, and is provided with the spaced integrally formed leaf spring seats 2I2. The journal box 2I4 is adapted to have sliding cooperation with the wear plates and has cooperative engagement with the journal ends of the wheel and axle assemblies 2I6. The journal box is provided with a leaf spring seat adapted to receive the spring band 2I8 of the semielliptic leaf spring assembly 220, the legs of the leaf spring assembly being in supporting relation to the spaced seats 2I2 and relative upward movement being regulated by means of the stop 222 provided on the pedestal and serving as a pedestal sills through the bracket portion 240 of said pedestals. The journal box is provided with v the leaf spring seat 242 adapted to receive the spring band 244 of the semi-elliptic leaf spring assembly 246, the legs of said assembly being in supporting engagement with the spaced leaf spring seats 248 provided on said pedestal between said plates 224.

In each of the fabricated constructions shown in Figures 8 to 13 inclusive, 15 and 16, the transverse beam members 226 are secured to the pedestal sills I48, and the end beam members 221 are provided, said beam members supporting the side sills 228 secured thereto.

It will of course be appreciated that the various spring arrangements shown in applicant Hedgcocks copending application Serial No. 702,151, filed with the present application, may readily be adapted to the underframe construction illustrated in the present application and it will be appreciated that a four-wheel car of easy riding qualities and of simple construction is provided in the present underframe.

It is to be understood that we do not wish to be limited by the exact embodiments of the device shown, which are merely by way of illustration and not limitation, as various and other forms of the device will of course be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

We claim:

1. In a car underframe structure, the combination of a single piece integral casting including a. center sill, said center sill having transverse means disposed in spaced relation to the end thereof, a transverse cross bearer substantially in alignment with said transverse meansf an end sill, spaced draft sills disposed between said cross bearer and said end sill, pedestal sills connected to said end sill and cross bearer, and having journal pedestals formed with spaced plates, and a spring seat disposed between said plates and embraced thereby.

2. In a car underframe structure, the combination of a single piece integral casting including a center sill, said center sill having transverse means disposed in spaced relation to the end thereof, a transverse cross bearer substantially in alignment with said transverse means, an end sill, spaced draft sills disposed between said cross bearer and said end sill, pedestal sills connected to said end sill and cross bearer, journal pedestals on said pedestal sills disposed adjacent said cross bearer, said pedestals having spaced plates, and a leaf spring seat disposed between and embraced by said plates.

3. In a car underframe structure, the combination of a single piece integral casting including a center sill, said center sill having transverse means disposed in spaced relation to the end thereof, a transverse cross bearer substantially in alignment with said transverse means, an end sill, spaced draft sills disposed between said cross bearer and said end sill, pedestal sills connected to said end sill and cross bearer and having journal pedestals formed with spaced plates, and a spring seat on each pedestal sill disposed between and embraced by the plates for each of the pedestals.

4. In a car underframe structure, the combination of a single piece integral casting including a center sill, said center sill having transverse means disposed in spaced relation to the end thereof, a transverse cross bearer substantially in alignment with said transverse means, an end sill, spaced draft sills disposed between said cross bearer and said end sill, pedestal sills connected to said end sill and cross bearer, a journal pedestal on said pedestal sills between said cross bearer and end sill, said journal pedestal being formed with spaced plates, and spaced leaf spring seats between said plates.

5. In a car underframe structure, the combination of a single piece integral casting including a center sill, said center sill having transverse means disposed in spaced relation to the end thereof, a transverse cross bearer substantially in alignment with said transverse means, an end sill, spaced draft sills disposed between said cross bearer and said end sill, pedestal sills connected to said end sill and cross. bearer, journal pedestals on said pedestal sills, said pedestal sills adjacent said pedestals being provided with a recess forming a coil spring seat, and a leaf spring seat on said pedestal sills spaced from said recess.

6. In a car underframe structure, the combination of a single piece integral casting including a. center sill, said center sill having transverse means disposed in spaced relation to the end thereof, a transverse cross bearer substantially in alignment with said transverse means, an end sill, spaced draft sills disposed between said cross bearer and said end sill, pedestal sills connected to said end sill and cross bearer, journal pedestals on said pedestal sills adjacent said cross bearer, said journal pedestals being formed with spaced plates, said pedestal sills having a recess providing a coil spring seat adjacent said pedestals, and a leaf spring seat on said pedestal sills between said plates and spaced from said recess.

7. In a car underframe structure, the combination of a single piece integral casting including a center sill, said center sill having transverse means disposed in spaced relation to the end thereof, a transverse cross bearer substantially in alignment with said transverse means, an end sill, spaced draft sills disposed between said cross bearer and said end sill, pedestal sills connected to said end sill and cross bearer, a diagonal brace member extending between said end and pedestal sills and said draft sills and cross bearer, journal pedestals depending from said pedestal sills and comprising spaced plates, and a leaf spring seat disposed between said plates.

8. In a car underframe structure, the combination of a single piece integral casting including a center sill, said center sill having transverse means disposed in spaced relation to the end thereof, a. transverse cross bearer substantially in alignment with said transverse means, an end sill, spaced draft sills disposed between said cross bearer and said end sill, pedestal sills connected to said end sill and cross bearer, a journal pedestal on said pedestal sills between said cross bearer and end sill, a diagonal brace member extending between said end and pedestal sills and said draft sills and cross bearer, said pedestal sills being formed with a recess providing a seat for a coil spring, and a leaf spring seat on said pedestal sills spaced from said recess.

9.-In a car underframe structure, the combination of a single piece integral casting including an end sill, a cross bearer, spaced draft sills disposed between said end sill and cross bearer, pedestal sills connected to said end sill and cross bearer, means for attachment to separate longitudinal sill members, journal pedestals on said pedestal sills, said journal pedestals being formed with spaced plates, and a leaf spring seat disposed between said plates.

10. In a car underframe structure, the combi nation of a single piece integral casting including an end sill, a cross bearer, spaced draft sills disposed between said end sill and cross bearer, pedestal sills connected to said end sill and cross bearer, means for attachment to separate longitudinal sill members, journal pedestals on said pedestal sills, said journal pedestals being formed with spaced plates, and spaced leaf spring seats disposed between said plates.

11. In a car underframe structure, the combination of a single piece integral casting including an end sill, a cross bearer, spaced draft sills disposed between said end sill and cross bearer, pedestal sills connected to said end sill and cross bearer, means for attachment to separate longitudinal sill members, journal pedestals on said pedestal sills, said pedestal sills adjacent said journal pedestals being provided with a recess providing a seat for a coil spring, and a leaf spring seat on said pedestal sills spaced from said recess.

12. In a car underframe structure, the combination of a single piece integral casting including an end sill, a cross bearer, spaced draft sills disposed between said end sill and cross bearer, pedestal sills connected to said end sill and cross bearer, means for attachment to separate longitudinal sill members, journal pedestals on said pedestal sills formed with spaced plates, said pedestal sills being provided with a'recess adapted to receive and seat a coil spring between said plates and a leaf spring seat on said pedestal sills between said plates in spaced relation to said recess.

13. In a car underframe structure, the combination of a single piece integral casting including a center sill, a transverse cross bearer, an end sill, spaced draft sills disposed between said cross bearer and said end sill and substantially centrally with respect to the ends thereof, pedestal sills connected to said end sill and cross bearer between said draft sills and the ends of said cross bearer and end sill, said end sill and cross bearer extending laterally outwardly of said pedestal sills, and side sills connected to said end sill and cross bearer.

14. In a car underframe structure, the combi-. nation of a single piece integral casting including a center sill, a transverse cross bearer, an end sill, spaced draft sills disposed between said cross bearer and said end sill and substantially centrally with respect to the ends thereof, a means disposed between said draft sills substantially in alignment with said cross bearer, pedestal sills connected to said end sill and cross bearer between said draft sills andthe ends of said cross bearer and end sill, said end sill and cross bearer extending laterally outwardly of said pedestal sills, and side sills connected to said end sill and cross bearer,

15. A car underframe structure comprising integral end castings each comprising an end'sill, a cross bearer, spaced draft sills disposed between said end sill and cross bearer and substantially centrally with respect to the ends thereof, pedestal sills connected to said end sill and cross bearer between said draft sills and the ends of said cross bearer and end sill, a plurality of separate sill members disposed between said end castings, andv means for connecting said separate sill members to said end castings, certain of said separate sill members being connected to said end sill and cross bearer in spaced relation outwardly of said pedestal sills.

16. A car underframe structure comprising integral end castings each comprising an end sill, a cross bearer, spaceddraft sills disposed between said end sill and cross bearer and substantially centrally with respect to the ends thereof, pedestal sills connected to said end sill and cross bearer between said draft sills and the ends of said cross bearer and end sill, said castings having members extending laterally of said cross bearer substantially in alignment with said draft and Dedestal sills, a plurality of separate sill members extending between and connected to said firstnamed members, and separate sill members connected to said end sill and cross bearer in spaced relation outwardly of said pedestal sills.

17. A car underframe structure comprising integral end castings each comprising an end sill, a cross bearer, spaced draft sills disposed between said end sill and cross bearer and substantially centrally with respect to the ends thereof, pedestal sills connected to said end sill and cross bearer between said draft sills and the ends of said cross bearer and end sill, said castings having members extending laterally of said cross bearer substantially in alignment with said draft and pedestal sills and said cross bearer and end sill extending laterally outwardly of said pedestal sills,

and a plurality of separate sill members extending between and connected to said first-named members and to said cross bearer and end sill extensions.

18. A car underframe structure comprising integral end castings each comprising an end sill, a cross bearer, spaced draft sills disposed between said end sill and cross bearer and substantially centrally with respect to the ends thereof, pedestal sills connected to said end sill and cross bearer between said draft sills and the ends of said cross bearer and end sill, journal pedestals on said pedestal sills, a plurality of separate sill members disposed between said end castings, and means for connecting said separate sill members to said end castings, certain of said separate sill mem-- bers being connected to said end sill and cross bearer in spaced relation outwardly of said pedestal sills.

19. A car underframe structure comprising integral end castings each comprising an end sill, a cross bearer, spaced draft sills disposed between said end sill and cross bearer and substantially centrally with respect to the ends thereof, pedestal sills connected to said end sill and cross bearer between said draft sills and the ends of said cross bearer and end sill, journal pedestals on said pedestal sills, said castings having members extending laterally of said cross bearer substantially in alignment with said draft and pedestal sills, and a plurality of separate sill members extending between and connected to said first-named members, and separate sill members connected to said end sill and cross bearer in spaced relation outwardly of said pedestal sills.

20. A car underframe structure comprising integral end castings each comprising an end sill, a cross bearer, spaced draft sills disposed between said end sill and cross bearer and substantially centrally with respect to the ends thereof, pedestal sills connected to said end sill and cross bearer between said draft sills and the ends of said cross bearer and end sill, journal pedestals on said pedestal sills, said castings having members extending laterally of said cross bearer substantially in alignment with said draft and pedestal sills and said cross bearer and end sill extending laterally outwardly of said pedestal sills, and a plurality of separate sill members extending be-- tween and connected to said first-named members and to said cross bearer and end sill extensions.

WILLIAM C. I-IEDGCOCK. ROBERT B. CO'I'I'RELL. 

